Fire destroys Yorktown restaurant

By
Sonny Long
March 28, 2013 at 7:03 a.m.Updated March 27, 2013 at 10:28 p.m.

An early morning fire in Yorktown completely destroyed the Texas Outpost on state Highway 72. The fire is under investigation.
Frank Tilley
for The Victoria Advocate

YORKTOWN - As he watched his Texas Outpost restaurant burn down, Brian Dlugosch's first thoughts were for the people who worked there.

"My main concern is the employees," he said. "We've got to find a way to put them back to work. They matter to us, and we want to do what we can for them."

Dlugosch says he hopes to find a place for about 25 displaced workers at his company's other endeavors - D&B Rental Services and three gas station/convenience stores in Yorktown.

The fire, at 308 state Highway 72, was reported by two passersby at 2:45 a.m., said Yorktown Police Officer Josh Serbin, who was first on the scene.

"When I arrived, I could see flames on the far side," he said.

The Yorktown Fire Department responded and found the building fully engulfed when firefighters arrived, said Yorktown Fire Chief Darryl Borth.

Cuero and Nordheim firefighters also responded to assist fighting the blaze. Firefighters were on scene about eight hours, Borth said.

Dlugosch said he also received a call about 2:45 a.m.

"I got here, and half the restaurant was in flames," he said. "I knew that once the wood in there caught on fire, it was gone. You're in business one day, and the next day, it's burned up. It's kind of surreal."

Dlugosch said he hasn't even begun to consider rebuilding.

"This just happened. We haven't had time to discuss it yet," he said.

The expansion from the store and meat market to include a restaurant took place within the last couple of years, he said.

Dean Shirley, chief investigator with the Texas Department of Insurance, said the cause of the fire is under routine investigation, but no cause has been determined.